Basketball Fans Beware

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill today is warning Hoosiers – and especially those visiting Indianapolis this weekend for the first and second rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament – to be careful when buying game tickets on the secondary market.

The Consumer Protection Division (CPD) of the Office of the Indiana Attorney General is advising those attending this weekend’s games to be cautious when engaging in person-to-person buying. This method can put you at risk of purchasing fake tickets and losing your hard-earned money. Person-to-person buying is almost always a cash transaction following a verbal, agreed-upon price between the seller and the buyer, leaving the buyer without documentation that the tickets are authentic and without means to retrieve their money in the event the tickets are fake, lost or stolen.

Always try to buy directly from the venue first, and only then proceed to the secondary seller websites. Many unscrupulous secondary market ticket websites sell tickets available through the venue’s ticket office but at a substantially higher markup.

If you must buy tickets from the secondary market, the CPD advises those who plan to attend the games to look through safer options such as trusted resale websites where a debit or credit card is required. If you plan on engaging in person-to-person buying, take the necessary steps to ensure your security from a fraudulent transaction.

· Double check to make sure the tickets have the correct date and time

· If you know someone who has already purchased tickets through primary markets, look at their ticket(s) and compare the appearance with that of the ticket(s) you are attempting to buy when engaging in a person-to-person transaction

· If possible, get the name and phone number of the person selling you the tickets, and call the number before exchanging any money to ensure it is actually the seller’s number. Encountering a seller who refuses to share such information, or who gives you a fake phone number, is usually a tell-tale sign you might be getting scammed.

· If you’re engaging in person-to-person buying, don’t purchase the first ticket(s) you come across. Inquire with several different sellers. This will allow you to see a common resemblance in the look of the ticket, ensuring they are authentic.

· Most importantly, if you can’t purchase tickets from the venue first, try to buy from secondary resale markets such as trusted websites before engaging in person-to-person buying.